Thursday, October 28, 2010

A Labor of Love - Part I

Do you all remember that time of your life when it seemed like everyone was getting married? Well, that phase of my life is behind me as most of my close friends are married.

Now I am at the phase of my life where it seems like everyone is pregnant. No joke. I haven't sat down and counted, but I know of at least 8 people, possibly more, that are due within the next 3 months. I have 3 friends and a cousin who are all due within ONE WEEK of each other. Two of my closest friends are due ONE DAY APART in December.

As you can tell if you've read my blog for long, I adore kids so I am excited that so many of my friends are embarking on this new phase in their life!

I love working with yarn and think that handmade gifts are the best. My grandma makes baby blankets for all the great grandchildren and I think it's the coolest gift to receive so I decided to make baby blankets for my 2 close friends who are due in December.

Today I am sharing the blanket I crocheted for my friend that is expecting a little lady in early December. This is actually my first crochet project where I had to follow a pattern, aside from some potholder I tried last year (which were an epic fail, by the way). You would think that if a person struggled to crochet potholder, it would be a bit delusional to make an entire blanket, right?

What can I say? I guess I like a challenge! Here are some photos for the finished product!

Here it is on the floor my condo, right before I boxed it up to send to my friend in Arizona

Here is a close up of the edge/corner details.

Another close up of the edges/corners

My friend had her shower last Saturday - I wish I could have been there when she opened it up but a trip down to Phoenix just wasn't in the budget.

I am still in the process of knitting a blanket for the other friend. I sadly did not finish it in time for her shower 2 weeks ago. :( It's taking me a bit longer to finish it than I thought it would! I am loving how it is turning out so can't wait to share it with you!

Do you ever make gifts? Have you receive a hand made gift that you loved? My grandma made each grandchild an afghan when we graduated from high school and I still have mine. Another 'hand made' gift that I received and loved was a journal that my mom kept of my senior year.

26 comments:

Charbelle said...

WOW that blanket looks SO awesome!!! I have no talents when it comes to these kind of projects!! Which makes me sad because these gifts are so priceless!!! What a wonderful present for the new babies in your life!!!

J said...

Lisa that is gorgeous! You did great crocheting that! I am currently starting a new baby blanket for a friend. She is expecting twin boys any day now! So my mom is knitting a blanket while I crochet!

abbi said...

Great blanket! I love hand-crafted gifts as well. I totally understand the feeling of everyone around you having babies too, they definitely seem to go in spurts!

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

Those look gorgeous! I would love to learn how to do this someday!! What a thoughtful gift! :)

Abby said...

Lisa!! That blanket is absolutely beautiful!!!!! Wow! Once again - You are so so so talented!!!

I have never made a hand-made gift. I don't have a creative bone in my body. I really wish I did have some sort of talent where I can use my hands (like knitting/crocheting). But, don't.

I did make that scrapbook for Mom & Dad at Christmas once - but that's the extent.

qwerkyqook said...

that is so pretty Lisa! I love the ribbon.

Jess said...

Great job on the blanket! And, I bet that's something your friend's baby is going to keep with her forever!

I love getting homemade gifts, but I've never made one for anyone (minus the silly arts and crafts projects I did for my parents as a kid). I am just not that talented..wish I was though!

Becky said...

Lisa that's beautiful! I'm not so great at making things but I LOVE handmade gifts! I'm trying to buy all handmade for Christmas this year!

Nora said...

I love that you hand make presents. That's awesome. I tend to be the gal who comes up with cute picture frames + photos, or do some fun quote things in a scrapbook-y way.

The best handmade gift that I received was a book that my mom wrote for me and (hopefully someday) my kids. Sweetest thing ever. It's amazing.

Mandy said...

I love, love, love the blanket. Handmade gifts are so incredibly special. My mom makes quilts and made them for all the neices and nephews, she's also made them for a few of my closest friends. Homemade gifts are always so special.

Leigh said...

The blanket turned out so well! :) I love home made gifts...they just mean so much more!

The Many Thoughts of a Reader said...

aww that is so beautiful! i love handmade gifts and just wish i was creative enough to do them myself!! A's cousin/aunt usually make a handmade gift for a new baby in their family. i am actually pretty excited to see what they make for us. previous gifts have been dresses, hats, booties and blankets. i actually think his cousin alreayd started something because as soon as i told her she was like I NEED TO GET GET SUPPLIES AHHHH.. and i am just as excited. our baby already got a small triangle blanket for the carseat from a friend of mine. she had made her daughter a football blanket cover and had left over material so she sewed one up for me and put ribbons on the edges that are the colors of the teams that A and i like. so cute and thoughtful cuz our kid will be watching a lot of football next fall! and um sorry for the book long answer haha.

Gracie said...

So pretty! I crochet a lot so most of my friends' babies get blankets or teddy bears. I know you mostly knit - did you find the transition to crochet difficult? Awkward - feeling?

Amber said...

That blanket is GORGEOUS. I love the details of the ribbon around the edges! You are so talented :-)

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

That is so pretty, Lisa! I love the pink ribbon. Truly impressive. I had a college roomie (the transplanted baker) who knitted socks and sweaters. I was floored every time she showed us what she was working on. I still dream of getting hand knitted socks from her bc she always said those were the hardest to make.

crystal said...

It is gorgeous!! Don't feel bad about the potholders, I have an unfinished blanket that I have been knitting since my first year of undergrad, (thats 9 years!!) yikes :)

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

aww the blanket is gorgeous! I wish I were better at knitting, sewing etc because I think gifts people make are definitely the best kind.

my sister makes awesome photo books :)

Marlys said...

I love, love, love the blanket and can't wait to see the finished knitted one! You did awesome! I used to knit and crochet and wonder if I'll ever take it up again? I'll have to take a class again if I do - learned how in 4-H the first time! That was eons ago, my dear!

Cherry Blossoms said...

Lisa, this was beyond generous of you! You have such an amazing talent and its so, so pretty! Everyone at my shower loved it and I can't wait for little Miss R to enjoy this precious blanket. You're the best!!

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

That blanket turned out beautifully!!! I wish I had the talent to make gifts like that!

Lisa-Marie said...

Lisa' that is BEAUTIFUL! you are very skilled!

I love homemade gifts, they though and effort that has gone into them makes them so much more lovely! They are the things I work hard to look after and keep!

SmallTownDi said...

Oh my goodness, that is beautiful! You are so talented! I can't wait for the day when I can give a gift like this...one of these days I WILL learn.

mary beth said...

You did a wonderful job on the blanket. I just finished one and mailed it to Missy. It was so cozy doing it these cold nights by the fire. Now I am in the mood to do another but know when I get down to FL it will not be so appealing. See you next Saturday.MB

Stephany said...

That is SOOO beautiful! You have talent, my friend.

My grandma once tried to teach me to knit but I was a horrible student. She eventually gave up on me (to my relief!) and was able to teach one of my cousins how to, hehe.

Nicole said...

It's so cute! Way to go! Since I'm on the strict grad school budget, I'm planning on knitting gifts for everyone this year for Christmas. I hope people like scarves!

Goldilocksbuzz said...

That is soooo cute!!! I am trying to crochet a bonnet for my friends baby. I am new to crocheting, so far i love it!!!! Just having a hard time understanging the directions. I might like it more thank knitting and I have been knitting for years now. Good job on the blanket!